When both President Barack Obama and his nemesis, House Speaker John Boehner, push for an immigration law by year's end, motive is irrelevant. This issue should have remained on Congress' front burner until a comprehensive reform bill was passed. The Senate came through during the summer, passing a bill that remains the best chance yet to put undocumented immigrants on a path — though long and winding — to citizenship. It includes fines and tighter border security. It is a path, however, that the most vociferous, and short-sighted, opponents continue to block in the House, though their arguments are persuasive to a dwindling number of Americans.

There are 11 million undocumented immigrants shut out of living fully in freedom's light. Families remain at risk of being separated; denied health insurance, they turn to emergency rooms for expensive care we all pay for.

And as recipients of Medicare and Social Security use up funds from these programs, Americans will need immigrant workers to replenish them.

Last week, a mash-up of Republican activists, business executives and evangelical leaders took their case to Capitol Hill, where they hoped to strong-arm members of the House GOP to pass their own legislation.

Those recalcitrant lawmakers can't fail to note that the coalition are the people who have been solidly in the GOP's camp for decades. To spurn them now would make the GOP's tent even smaller than it already is.

Given Mr. Obama's and Mr. Boehner's anemic power of persuasion these days, the likelihood of a comprehensive law by year's end is a long shot. Yet neither of them can fail to be as vociferous and determined as immigration reform's benighted opponents.